It’s also Chris Allen’s first win as a Division 1 head coach!
At the end of the day, all that matters in soccer is how often you put the ball in the net and how well you do at stopping your opponent from doing the same. The amount of time reading on the clock when you score the game winner or, in this case, the only goal of the game, doesn’t officially matter.
So, officially, it doesn’t matter that the clock said “87:58” when Emily Fix nudged in the mess created by Kate Gibson’s cross into the middle to put Marquette women’s soccer up 1-0 on Thursday night at Valley Fields.
FINAL | MU – 1 | UIC – 0
Goal! Fix knocks one in from Gibson in the 88′ to win the match! pic.twitter.com/AfUvwkYajK
— MARQUETTE Soccer (@MarquetteWSOC) August 30, 2024
It doesn’t matter in terms of win or loss that it was Marquette’s first lead of the entire season. It doesn’t matter that it was the second goal of the season, doesn’t matter that it was their first non-set piece goal of the season, doesn’t matter that it was the earliest Marquette has scored in a match all season.
All that matters is that Fix’s effort was enough to give Marquette the lead when the final horn sounded, and now they have their first win of the season. It’s also the first win of Chris Allen’s head coaching career in Division 1, as Marquette is now 1-3-1 in 2024.
After a first half that ended with both teams tied with six shots each even though Marquette had five corner kicks to UIC’s zero, it seemed like MU was inching closer to a goal as the second half went on. By the end of the second 45 minutes, the Golden Eagles had outshot the Flames 8-4, but seven of those eight shots were on frame as UIC keeper Lauren Keiser made six saves after halftime. It didn’t feel like a dominant performance by Marquette, but the numbers are what the numbers are.
We have to close up with credit to Chloe Olson, who made her first appearance in net this season for Marquette. She played the full 90 minutes and made five saves — three in the first half, two in the second — to give Marquette their first match this season without conceding a goal.
Up Next: Advantage Marquette in the 2024 Marquette Challenge Cup, and so they will play for the event championship on Sunday. Minnesota went over to the east side of town and beat Milwaukee 3-2 on Thursday night. Khyah Harper scored in the 36th, 68th, and 80th minute for all three Gophers goals to move them to 3-0-0 on the season. It’s Harper’s second straight match with a hat trick this season. First kick in the Valley is set for 1pm Central.